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Introduction Orthostatic hypotension is a common cause of syncope at the emergency department (ED). Frequently an intervention is started for example intravenous fluid or medication. Recent studies described different orthostatic blood pressure recovery patterns visualized by a non-invasive beat-to-beat blood pressure monitor (Nexfin®). However, until now no research has been conducted about the effect of an intervention started at the ED on orthostatic blood pressure recovery patterns.
Objective To evaluate the effect of intervention on orthostatic blood pressure recovery patterns of syncope patients at the ED. Besides, we want to determine if it’s better to detect the effect of an intervention with Nexfin® or with the conventional intermittent blood pressure method (cBD).
Material and Methods During 14 weeks 30 patients ≥18 years were included with (pre)syncope at the ED and they were randomized in two groups. At both groups the blood pressure was measured at the ED and the outside department in lying and standing position with the cBD and in group 1 also with the Nexfin® simultaneously.
Results In the group of patients who received an intervention 71% showed a recovered blood pressure pattern at the outpatient department, in comparison to 20% of the patients who did not receive an intervention (p = 0,05). The Nexfin® also detected significantly more patients with an abnormal blood pressure recovery pattern (p = 0,03) in comparison to the cBD.
Conclusion Despite the small study population it appears that an intervention results into normalization of orthostatic blood pressure recovery patterns. Beside this we also found that the Nexfin® detected more abnormal orthostatic blood pressure recovery patterns in comparison to the cBD.